Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Oct. 13-18.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
Look for the poll at the bottom of this page.
On to the nominees:
Elijah Balandin, Benicia water polo: The senior scored six goals to lead the Panthers to a 9-7 victory over Alhambra in a Diablo Athletic League Valley Division game. The output gave Balandin 101 goals on the season.
Lenox Colvin, Oakland football: The junior completed 12 of 17 passes for 385 yards and six touchdowns as Oakland defeated Oakland Tech 46-20 in an Oakland Athletic League game. The victory improved Oakland’s record to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the OAL.
Matthew Derossett, Burlingame water polo: The senior had five goals, two assists and two steals in a 15-7 victory over Priory. He began this week with 85 goals, 26 steals and 18 assists on the season.
Ishan Devarapalli, Mountain View football: The junior overcame heavy pressure from the defense to complete 12 of 22 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-28 loss to Capuchino in Peninsula Athletic League De Anza Division play.
Xavier Henderson, Piedmont football: In a 40-15 victory over Irvington, the senior ran for 105 yards and four touchdowns in 15 carries and had 15 tackles and two forced fumbles, including a recovery. Piedmont improved to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in WACC Mission Division play.
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Cameren Hubler, Antioch football: The junior linebacker intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, had a forced fumble and fumble recovery and finished with eight tackles to help lead Antioch to a 25-14 victory over Deer Valley in Bay Valley Athletic League play.
Luke Ostrander, Sequoia football: The junior completed 13 of 17 passes for 222 yards and four touchdowns, ran for 114 yards in 14 carries and had eight tackles as Sequoia defeated Hillsdale 34-14 in a PAL Ocean Division game.
Rowan Prindiville, Woodside Priory cross country: The senior had the third-fastest time among Central Coast Section runners (both from Aptos) and 12th-best time overall in the Small School Varsity Race at the Rough Rider Invitational at Woodward Park, finishing the 5,000-meter course in 16:20.51.
Max Thomas, Los Gatos football: The senior caught five passes for 145 yards and one touchdown (from 45 yards out) to help lead Los Gatos to a 35-21 victory on the road over Wilcox in a PAL Bay Division showdown.
Alijah Torres, Piedmont Hills football: The senior ran for 155 yards and three touchdowns in 13 carries and caught two passes for 11 yards to help Piedmont Hills (4-3, 2-0) rally from a 17-0 halftime deficit to beat Pioneer 35-17 in a BVAL Santa Teresa-Foothill Division game.
Trevor van der Pyl, Menlo School football: The senior caught an 82-yard touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 88 yards for a TD as Menlo School improved to 7-0 with a 49-6 victory over Palo Alto in PAL Bay Division play. He finished with 112 receiving yards on two catches.